Stare decisis is a legal principle that rulings made by lower courts are binding on higher courts in the same jurisdiction.

Legal Principle

A foundational concept or established rule of law that guides judicial decisions and legal reasoning.

Lower Courts

Courts that have jurisdiction to hear cases of less significance or that are the first level of the court system, also known as inferior courts.

Higher Courts

Judicial bodies at the upper levels of a legal system, which have the authority to hear appeals from lower court decisions.